Clinical-morphological profiles of basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas in Barbacena: a descriptive and exploratory study

Abstract

Objective: To compare the sociodemographic, topographic, and macroscopic characteristics of BCC and SCC cases, and to describe their histopathological findings. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional, descriptive and exploratory study, carried out by means of analysis of histopathological reports of patients treated at the Vilela University Hospital, located in Barbacena, Minas Gerais. A total of 106 eligible cases of skin cancer were initially evaluated, however, only 101 were included in the comparison between CBC and CEC. Variables were analyzed using frequencies, median, and interquartile range. Fisher's exact test and the Mann-Whitney test were applied, adopting a significance level of 5%. Results: BCC was the most frequent diagnosis and was more commonly associated with lesions located on the head and neck and with an elastic consistency. cSCC was mainly associated with elevated or raised lesions that were firm, granular, and had a whitish, crusted, or rough surface. Conclusion: BCC and cSCC presented distinct clinical and morphological profiles, indicating that systematic macroscopic evaluation may contribute to the initial diagnostic suspicion, although definitive diagnosis still depends on histopathological confirmation.